60 THE VILIA GARDKNKR. 



SECTIOiN II. 



DESIGKS FOR LAYING OUT AND PLANTING THE GARDENS OF SUBURBAN 

 RESIDENCES FROM ONE PERCH TO TWO ACRES IN EXTENT. 



85. llie gardens of houses in a connected street, or row, -which are the 

 smallest in this class, generally consist of two parts, divided from each 

 other by the house, through which the back garden is entered. Both are 

 necessarily of the same width as the house, but the front garden is generally 

 square ; while the back garden varies in length, according to circumstances. 

 The side walls or fences are parallel to each other ; and they are generally 

 kept low, that they may neither throw too much shade on the garden, nor 

 impede the free circulation of the air. At the end of the back-garden, far- 

 thest from the house, there is frequently a door opening into some back road 

 or lane ; and if there is a stable, it is placed here. 



86. The gardens of suburban villas, which, though they form a broken street 

 or row, are partially or wholly detached, a7id stand cither singly or in jiairs, also 

 consist of a front and a back garden, but the latter is not entered through 

 the house, there being a strip of ground connecting the two on one side of 

 those houses which stand in pairs, and on both sides of those which are 

 detached. The back garden is, however, still of the same oblong, regular 

 form, enclosed by low straight parallel walls, and terminating in a straight 

 wall opposite the house, and opening into some back road or lane. 



87. It is obvious that gardens thus shaped can afford little opportunity for 

 taste being displayed in laying them out, and that their chief interest must 

 depend upon the trees, shrubs, and flowers that they contain. It is also 

 evident that unless gardens of this kind are kept in the very highest state of 

 cultivation, they will have a very unpleasing effect ; as their whole space is 

 continually before the eyes of the spectator, and as they have no scenic beauty 

 to direct the attention from their untidiness and neglected appearance. 



88. The planting of the front garden of a suburban residence cannot be 

 much varied. No large trees can be admitted, as they would throw too much 

 shade upon the windows, and there is no space for variety or intricacy in the 

 walks. In most cases, all that is required is a few beds for flowers, which 

 should be kept with the greatest neatness, or a few flowering shrubs, inter- 

 mixed with evergreens. The situation and size of the garden must, of course^ 

 be taken into consideration in deciding which of these plans is the most suit- 

 able : if the garden is small and exposed to the sun, it will be best to plant it 

 with showy flowers ; but if the garden is in the shade during the greater part 

 of the day, it will be best to plant it with evergreens and flowering shrubs, 

 such as the arbutus and laurestinus. Even a plantation of hollies only, pro- 

 vided a few variegated ones be introduced, has a very good effect. 



89. The laying out and planting of the back garden admits of much greater 

 variety than the front ; particularly when it is the garden of a suburban villa, 

 either wholly or entirely detached from the surrounding houses. It is true, that 

 the shape of the ground, and the formality of the boundaries, must give some- 



